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Should Tom Izzo Make a Push for Michigan Transfer LJ Cason?
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- Should Tom Izzo Make a Push for Michigan Transfer LJ Cason?
(© David Rodriguez Munoz / USA TODAY NETW)
Monday afternoon, the final Michigan Wolverine had to decide whether he was returning to Michigan following the departure of Dusty May or entering a limited transfer portal window. That player was guard LJ Cason.
For anyone wondering why there is a special, second transfer portal window, it exists specifically for players whose head coach leaves for the NBA after the original transfer portal has already closed. Those players are given an additional opportunity to decide whether they want to stay with their current program or look elsewhere.
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That was the case in Ann Arbor a month ago when former head coach Dusty May, fresh off leading Michigan to a national championship — the first for a Big Ten program since Michigan State won it all in 2000 — left for the NBA.
May had been on the shortlist for several NBA teams, and once the NBA season concluded, it was the Dallas Mavericks who ultimately won the Dusty May sweepstakes. Dallas convinced May to leave the very program he had just guided to a national championship and take over a team led by one of the NBA's brightest young stars, Cooper Flagg.
With May's departure, Michigan players were given the opportunity to enter a mini transfer portal and explore other options rather than remain with a Wolverines team without the coach who had just delivered a title. As that window opened, though, it quickly became apparent that many of the players weren't just committed to May — they were committed to the Michigan program itself. One by one, Wolverines announced they would be returning to Ann Arbor for the 2026-27 season.
That remained the case until Monday, when the final player left to make a decision became the only Wolverine to enter the special transfer portal window. Cason will now have the opportunity to choose where he'd like to continue his college career.
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That brings us to the question of this article.
Could Tom Izzo make a push for Cason?
The first argument against it is obvious: Michigan State already has a loaded roster. If the Spartans were to add another player, the roster would likely have to be reshuffled, with someone potentially becoming the odd man out.
Michigan State's backcourt is led by Wooden Award betting favorite Jeremy Fears Jr., who returns to once again serve as the Spartans' floor general. After setting the Michigan State single-season assists record, Fears will look to guide the Spartans back to the Final Four for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
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Then there's sharpshooter Kur Teng, who was arguably Michigan State's best three-point shooter last season and provided life to an offense that occasionally struggled to find consistent scoring.
The Spartans also welcome two highly regarded freshmen who could make an immediate impact.
Jasiah Jervis, ranked No. 27 in the ESPN 100, helped lead Team USA's U18 squad to a gold medal and looks capable of competing with Teng for a starting spot alongside Fears.
Finally, there's Carlos Medlock Jr., ranked No. 53 in the ESPN 100, who has already impressed Spartan fans during Moneyball action this summer. Medlock possesses outstanding ball-handling ability and projects as Fears' primary backup, though he certainly has the talent to earn a larger role as the season progresses.
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So it's not as if Michigan State has an abundance of available minutes in the backcourt.
However, Cason is an exceptional talent who would improve just about any team he joins. Last season, he averaged 8.4 points, 2.4 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game before his season was cut short by an ACL injury.
Could Tom Izzo pull off one of the more entertaining moves in college basketball by convincing Cason to stay in the state of Michigan, just 60 miles down the road in East Lansing?
It's certainly an intriguing thought.
Cason would immediately compete for playing time while adding another talented scorer and playmaker to a Spartans roster that is always looking to add more shooting and depth in the backcourt.
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If you're wondering whether I actually believe this is a realistic possibility, the answer is yes. I absolutely think it's possible.
Would I bet on it? Probably not.
Still, if Izzo were able to land Cason, he'd be adding another proven Big Ten talent to what is already one of the deepest and most talented rosters Michigan State has assembled entering the 2026-27 season. It may not be the most likely outcome, but it's certainly one worth keeping an eye on over the coming days.
